Get in the know this Christmas and New Year

Getting in the know about how to use NHS services is particularly important during the Christmas and New Year period when services tend to be busier and some opening hours may change.

Much of the advice on this page can be followed all year round but it is really important that everyone reminds themselves at this time of year about the services to use and avoids putting the NHS under any unnecessary pressure by enjoying the festive period safely, limiting the spread of any illnesses and managing any existing health conditions well.

In addition, this year the British Medical Association (BMA) has announced further junior doctors’ strike dates, which fall either side of the festive period and will have a further impact on services:

7am on Wednesday 20 December to 7am on Saturday 23 December
7am on Wednesday 3 January to 7am on Tuesday 9 January.

Top tips on using the NHS this Christmas and New Year

If you do need medical help, come forward straight away and follow the advice on this page.
If you take regular prescribed medication, check you have enough to last throughout the festive period and order anything you need by 18th December.
If you are normally in good health and you have a minor illness, you can usually treat this yourself at home. Get advice from your local pharmacy, NHS 111 online or the NHS App.
Some pharmacies in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will be open on the bank holidays. Check out the opening times here.
GP practices’ normal opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8am to 6:30pm, excluding bank holidays, which means they will be closed on Christmas Day (Monday 25th December), Boxing Day (Tuesday 26th December) and New Year’s Day (Monday 1st January). Normal service will resume on Tuesday 2nd January.
If you need urgent help and your GP practice is closed, use NHS 111 (online, by phone or using the NHS App), available 24/7.
For urgent mental health support, call the Central Access Point on 0808 800 3302, 24/7, or visit a Neighbourhood Mental Health Cafe.
The 999 service should only be used in a life-threatening emergency.

You can find more information on these topics further down the page.

Additional information for during the junior doctors' strikes

Please attend any planned medical appointments as normal. The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled.
GP practices are not affected by the strikes and will be open as normal.

Your local pharmacy for help with common minor illnesses

Pharmacists are qualified health professionals and are the right people to see if you need advice or over-the-counter medicines.

They are trained in dealing with many illnesses, they can check your symptoms and recommend the best treatment, or just reassure you – for instance when a minor illness will get better on its own with a few days’ rest.

Some of the problems they can help with are: coughs, colds, sore throats, earache and toothache. They can also tell you when you need to seek further medical assistance.

You can find out your local pharmacy opening hours over the festive period here.

NHS 111 if it's urgent or you're not sure what to do

NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do. It is the easiest way for you to get the right care for your particular medical problem, as quickly as possible. They can get you help for your specific symptoms and advise which local services to use – they can even book an appointment.

They can help you 24 hours a day, over the festive period. You can now use NHS 111 by phone, online or through the NHS App:

If you have access to a computer or smartphone visit NHS111 Online at 111.nhs.uk or use the NHS App.
If you do not have access to a computer or smartphone, you can call NHS 111 where a fully trained adviser will advise on the best course of action.
If you do need to contact them by phone, please be aware that they make take longer than normal to answer your call over the festive period, so please do use the online option if you are able to.
If you have hearing loss, are Deaf or have difficulties communicating you can also access NHS 111 by textphone on 18001 111 and British Sign Language (BSL) users can use the NHS 111 BSL interpreter service.
NHS 111 online is for children aged 5 and over. If your child is aged under 5 you must Call 111.
If you need advice for a minor illness or injury, use NHS 111 Online or the NHS App:

Find out more about NHS 111 here.

For life-threatening illnesses or injuries, you should always dial 999.

Urgent care services

In Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland there are several urgent care services for when you need to be seen quickly, but it isn’t life threatening. When you contact NHS 111, they may book an appointment for you here, if appropriate for your condition. In some cases you might not need an appointment but you are advised to use NHS 111 first to make sure it is the right place for you and to keep your waiting time to a minimum. Please also check opening times before travelling. You can find out more about these services here https://leicesterleicestershireandrutland.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/find-the-right-service/urgent-care-services/.

NHS App

You can also access health advice over the festive period via the NHS App. It is a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services online.

Visit www.nhs.uk/nhs-app to find out more. It is available to download on iOS and Android devices.

Ordering repeat prescriptions

Find out how to order a repeat perscription by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/online-services/how-to-order-a-repeat-prescription/

If you do run out of medication, contact your GP practice in the first instance. When practices are closed please use NHS 111 online, or call NHS 111 if you don’t have internet access.

The Mental Health Central Access Point

If you, or someone you care about, need urgent advice or support for your mental health, you can call our Mental Health Central Access Point on 0808 800 3302. This service will be open as normal over Christmas and New Year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Neighbourhood Mental Health Cafés

Neighbourhood Mental Health Cafes provide local support for people who need immediate help with their mental health. You can find out more about Neighbourhood Mental Health Cafes here.

Neighbourhood Mental Health Cafes are open over Christmas and New Year. To find out what is open and when, please visit https://bit.ly/3FMLIxL

To get in the know about local services for after the festive period, click here.